Arlington, VA vs Plano, TX

The cost of living difference between Arlington, VA and Plano, TX is dramatic. Plano is 41.1% cheaper than Arlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Arlington has a cost index of 178 while Plano sits at 126, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,275/month compared to $1,792/month in Plano — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Plano is more affordable at $440,600 median vs $864,800.

Median household income in Arlington is $140,160 compared to $108,649 in Plano (+29%). The higher salaries in Arlington partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Plano.